Highlights of the CHPC Session Meeting

of February 26, 2025

All six Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church elders, deacon-of-the-month, clerk of session, and treasurer met at church with Pastor Tami. It was great to have her feeling so much better and able to be back with us after a two-week illness. She opened the meeting in prayer and we discussed our own regular prayer practices and the blessings that God bestows on all who reach out.

The Session took the following actions:

• Session approved Andrea Trautwein, clerk of Session, to sign a contract with Craig Kaviar of Kaviar Forge to begin work this fall on a 6-foot art piece using parts of guns disabled at safe-surrender events organized by Guns ot Gardens Louisville. Additional iron, from tools or other objects donated by members, will also be used. The cost will be $26,900 plus an undetermined cost for a stand and installation. The project will be paid for with $10,000 already approved by Session, donations solicited from the congregation, presbytery grants solicited by Tami, and the balance from other CHPC trusts and bequests. Per Craig’s request, and Session’s approval, Aaron Baer will give Andrea a check for 40% of the cost to send to Craig with the contract within the next two weeks.
• Approved the baptism of Allana Christine Kinsey, daughter of Cara and Tim Kinsey, and grand-parents Stu Jr. and Allen Bridgman, on June 8 with great-grandfather Stewart Bridgman Sr. presiding. Approvals are being sought from his Presbytery as well as Mid-Kentucky.
• Patti Marcum has agreed to head the scholarship committee for her final year. Ben Langley volunteered to work with her this year and assume leadership in 2026. Session graciously approved Patti’s long-term service and Ben’s willingness to learn this process.
• Retroactively approved Richard Recob to preach on Feb. 16 and Phil Lloyd-Sidle on Feb. 25 due to Pastor Tami’s illness.
• Delayed until the March meeting the approval of minutes from the Dec. 11, 2024 Session meeting, Jan. 19, Congregational meeting, and Jan. 25 Session meeting to allow more time to review, along with minutes from this meeting.
• Treasurer Aaron Baer reviewed financial status for the first part of the year. More detail will be provided in March. The Session approved 2025 budget was accidentally omitted from the 2024 Annual Report. All agreed to send it as an attachment in the next Westminster Weekly.
• Ben Langley and Soni Castleberry reported on communications with the owners of the house behind the church regarding use of the driveway to enter and exit the parking lot. They have had problems late at night with cars traveling quickly through there and their cat was killed. Session approved CHPC’s purchase and installation of a sign by the driveway stating: “This is not a public road. Use is for church guests and this homeowner. Please drive slowly.” Soni and Ben will advise the neighbors of this decision and follow through with implementing it.
• Soni Castleberry and Andrea Trautwein served as commissioners to the Feb. 22 meeting of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery. A written report will be sent to Session members before its March meeting.
• Approved a request from Jefferson County Master Gardener Association to host a Trivia Night on Mar. 22. Proceeds are to be split between them and CHPC.
• Approved Pastor Tami to hold an Ash Wednesday service at CHPC on Wed., Mar. 5. Also approved a Maundy Thursday service to be held at First Christian Church on Apr. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Good Friday service will be held at CHPC with First Christian Church as our visitors, on April 18 at 12:00 p.m.

2025 Budget

Session approved the 2025 Budget at the January retreat. To view, click here 2025 CHPC Budget.

OPS and NOW and Pizza

Everyone is invited to gather in the Henry Young Fellowship Hall for pizza and salad at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 and stay for continued discussion of our church community and mission.

Our discussions will take place in two committees:

• OPS (Operations) Committee—Guides the work of stewardship and giving, finances, budget, personnel, upkeep of building and grounds.
• NOW Committee—Guides programmatic work of the congregation, including music and worship, Christian formation, earth care, gun violence prevention, garden ministry, outreach to the community, Guatemala partnership and overseas mission.

Even if you are not sure about serving on a “committee,” please join us for the food and a chance to get to know others in our church community.

A Lenten Opportunity — Lectio Divina

CHPC is offering a Lenten group devoted to contemplative reading of Scripture. Phil Lloyd-Sidle will be facilitating using a method of prayerful reading that dates back to the early church called Lectio Divina — “divine reading."

When?

Five Thursday evenings in Lent from 5:00-6:30 p.m. The dates are March 13, 20, 27, April 3 and April 10. There will be no group during Holy Week.

Where?

The Gathering Room of the back building.

What is Lectio Divina?

It is a method of contemplative reading that seeks to invite our hearts and minds into an ever-deepening experience of God and God’s word as it comes to each of us in Scripture. We will be reading passages in Matthew and Luke that lift up various aspects of Jesus’ teaching and ministry.

Some details:

As a group process this practice can be very profound. Please be punctual. Things to bring: a Bible version you like, a journal (or paper). Some people like to draw; feel free to bring some colored pens or pencils. Also, it is encouraged that people try to make all five sessions, if possible. There is a great gain in trust and companionship as we each commit to this small-group experience.

Prayer and Action for Middle East

This coming week’s Prayer Group for the Middle East will meet in person on Thursday, March 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the home of Don and Carol Mead, 7522 Dudley Square Drive, at Episcopal Church Homes. (This is a change for this month only from the usual 1st of the month in-person meeting.) Soup will be served. Feel free to bring a light snack to share.

The other two prayer times this month will be on Zoom, Thursdays March 20 and 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Feel free to join us on Zoom, in-person, or both. This group has enabled such support for one another as we all struggle to cope with the tragedies in the Middle East and the on and off cease fires and prisoner releases. We would be grateful to have others join us. Email Soni at soni.castleberry@gmail.com to get the Zoom link and be added to the group email list for regular communication.

Trivia Night!!!

March 22, 2025

Join the Jefferson County Master Gardener's for a fun Trivia Night with a garden spin!

There will be some plant-related trivia along with general trivia. Proceeds raised will be split between CHPC and JCMGA. Proceeds will fund a rainwater collection system to water the on-site garden.

Winning team receives a gift basket! Team costumes encouraged and/or decorate your table with any plant related theme. Best decorated receives a trophy!

Bring your own refreshments. No alcohol allowed on premises. Baked goods and drinks will be available to purchase.

Details: We have room for 9 teams of 6 players each, so sign up soon! (min. age 18) If you don't have a team, please sign up anyway. All are welcome!

$90 per team/$15 per person

No cell phone use during the event 

No Smoking 

Date: March 22, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: CHPC Fellowship Hall

Registration: Deadline is March 14 or when 9 teams are fully registered. (Minimum age 18).

Please send funds via Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/JCMGAKY or mail a check to Ed Hill, 5411 Navajo Rd, Louisville, KY 40207 (Make checks out to JCMGA). Once funds are received, your captain will receive a confirmation email that you are fully registered.

Contact mgevent@jcmgaky.org for additional information or questions.

Healing the Earth

Members of the CHPC community are invited to donate to an exciting art project that will be a visible witness to our commitment to earth care and ending gun violence. The Session has agreed to contract with local blacksmith Craig Kaviar to create a six-foot iron sculpture for the front plaza. The art piece, called “Healing the Earth,” will be made of pieces of guns chopped up at Guns to Gardens Louisville safe-surrender events.

The cost of this project is $28,514, plus stand, lighting, and installation. Session has set aside $10,000, plus $548 from the Peace and Global Witness Offering, toward the art piece. The remainder of the cost will be covered by grants and donations. If you would like to donate, please make your check out to CHPC and specify in the memo line that the donation is for the sculpture. Or you can use the QR code below.

If you have a tool or other item that you would like to donate for possible use in the sculpture, please contact the church office. Please make sure the object is iron (attracts a magnet).

Guns to Gardens Louisville, which grew out of a Sunday school class in our congregation, has so far received 88 unwanted guns to transform into garden tools, art, and jewelry. Craig Kaviar is a valued partner in this effort. His art piece—along with the gardens flourishing on church grounds—will symbolize to the community our commitment to healing and caring for God's creation.

DID YOU KNOW?

What Presbyterians Believe"

Presbyterianism grew out of the theology and teachings of Protestant reformers such as John Calvin. His writings in 16th-century Geneva crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him, including an emphasis on the grace of God in Jesus Christ and church government by representative assemblies called presbyteries. 

https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/who-we-are/history

March Birthdays

Please remember these wonderful folks in prayer and, if possible, reach out to them with a card, phone call, text, email or however you choose to honor them.

To double-check your listing, contact Soni Castleberry at soni.castleberry@gmail.com or phone or text at 502-417-6481.

March 11 - Eva Stimson

March 12 - Bill Gee, Shannon Langley

March 13 - Lengulula Kashama

March 17 - Katharine Griswold

March 19 - Andrea Trautwein

March 22 - Christy Bott-Baird, Rachel Brewer

March 28 - Ethan Myers

March 29 - Dawn Pendleton